Mike and I have eaten at Kawali Grill several times now and each time we do, we leave already thinking about what to get next time we go back. Tonight, I had to fill my craving for lechon kawali, and he had been thinking about the pandan chicken since yesterday. Next week I think we're going to special order some bangus.

We have really been enjoying both the food and the atmosphere at this newest restaurant addition to our 'hood. Chef Gerold offers a well-balanced menu with lots of real Philippine cuisine as well as more commonly-found dishes like burgers, cedar-plank salmon and chicken marsala. They also have chicken fingers on the Kids' Menu. Of course, we order the Filipino food each time, but in case someone in your party just doesn't want to try the palabok or the pancit bihon, they won't need to go hungry.

For me, it's just such a treat to eat good Filipino food without having to cook it myself! And with the added benefit of the place being a nice walkable distance. (A kawali is a type of frying pan, in case you were wondering.)

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Here is a write up from the Seattle P.I. January 11, 2008:

Fine Filipino fare is just the start at Kawali

by Kristen Milares Young
P-I reporter

Ever hear of Hillman City?

No?

Well, the burgeoning retail and restaurant strip along Rainier Avenue South just got lucky, catching some cuisine that could easily match — and sometimes best — that of its northern neighbor, Columbia City.

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Seattle Magazine also did a review on Kawali:

Although many Filipinos live in Seattle—far more than the number of Thai immigrants—there are relatively few places to explore the food of their island nation. It’s a pleasure to see a new spot open up to satisfy any lumpia (Filipino-style egg rolls) cravings one might have. Kawali Grill has the look of a pin-neat diner with its sunny yellow interior, simple furniture and a couple of televisions tuned to the evening’s Seahawks game.

This place is great if you like fried food, but if you don't, be sure to ask before ordering. Also, when the restaurant is packed, the noise level can be a bit much since there are no noise dampeners on the walls. Nice staff and owner. Fair prices.

RE: the fried food
People need to have context for it, I think. Sure, there are more than few fried foods on the menu. It's an authentic Filipino restaurant, after all. That's the way it is in the Philippines. The chef hasn't chosen to bake everything and Westernize it.

RE: the lechon kawali on the menu
I have this craving only very occasionally. They do an awesome job of it at Kawali Grill. Know that this is a lot of pork fat: may be a bit too decadent for the palettes of the fitness-conscious or those simply unfamiliar with the joy that is pork fat. There are many choices besides this menu item.

The art of frying food originally came from ancient China. The Philippines later adopted it for their own use, as did the Americas (Westerners) and others.

Frequent consumption of fried animal fats without significant exercise or activity can contribute to disproportionately high occurrences of obesity, hypertension, cardiac/circulatory problems, and/or type 2 diabetes, conditions which often result in shortened lifespan. Additionally, trans fat, which is used not only in soul food, but in many baked goods, is a known contributor to cardiovascular disease.

Deep-frying is probably the least healthy of the cooking methods, especially if the oil is used more than once. Pan frying might be a little better, but still not so good if you use a lot of oil and batters on your foods that absorb a lot of oil. Sauteing in a bit of olive oil or canola oil is better, and roasting in an oven is better yet.

Canola oil is the lowest in saturated fat of any edible oil. Of the “healthy choice” oils on the market, canola is the most readily available and economical.

Next time you go to Kawali, maybe ask them to use fresh canola oil for their frying, if they aren't doing that already. That way you can keep the culture, and get the health benefit at the same time.

Great write-up, Jenn. Makes me hungry. I ate a quick lunch at Kawali once and have been meaning to return. Is the breakfast menu as good as I've heard? I'm always on the look-out for a breakfast place and keep forgetting to try Kawali, despite driving through Hillman City every week.

I remember in college having breakfast at my Filipina girlfriend's parents' place on Long Island. I was surprised when she poured ketchup all over her eggs. Was it just them, or is ketchup on eggs really a Pinoy thing? Anyway, ketchup became part of my routine.

Oh, and that's when I first encountered the giant wooden spoon and fork! :) (If you have no idea what that is, folks, Google it!)

Heh heh.
Hello tqn69! You wanna meet there for breakfast this coming weekend, perhaps? I'm due. If you are interested, please email.

I do not add ketchup all over my eggs, but I do always offer it when I serve breakfast. So, maybe it *is* a Filipino thing? At least I have those giant spoons all over my dining room (no forks, though — there I go again with the "partially doing it" deal). ;-)